American artist Shepard Fairey, whose “Hope” poster for the 2008 Barack Obama election campaign became a global sensation, created this work in Ebor Street, together with two other works in Corbet Place (near the Old Truman Brewery) and Bateman’s Row, to coincide with his exhibition “Sound and Vision” (until Nov 4) at the StolenSpace Gallery in the Old Truman Brewery. This work conveys his belief, “art should be free on the street for the public”.

Although I couldn’t find any information of this graffiti in Ely’s Yard behind Old Truman Brewery, but I believe this is a work by Abdullah Mohammed Alshehri, a Saudi street artist based in Riyadh, depicting Sarah Attar who is the first female track & field athlete covering her hair, representing Saudi Arabia in 2012 London Olympic (reference: the Guardian). Born in the US with American mother and Saudi father, Attar has dual citizenship but wanted to represent Saudi Arabia at the Olympics as a way of inspiring women.

“Scratching the Surface” wall with a man’s face in Dray Walk at the Old Truman Gallery, is made by Alexandre Farto, a Portuguese street artist better known as Vihls, in a collaboration with Orelha Negra. You can see this in front of ‘Attar’ (above) in the same place.Vihls creates his signature works by chipping off tiny bits of plaster and concrete from walls (reference: BA Street Art).

By the way, this big “PLEASE USE TOILETS PROVIDED” signboard was put up also on Brick Lane (photo), and probably somewhere else as well nearby. It is quite embarrassing to see this here and there…